Peter Shalulile returned from injury to score while Brazilian import Lucas Ribeiro netted twice as Mamelodi Sundowns won in the African Champions League on Friday.
A 4-0 win away over Bumamura of Burundi in the first leg of their second round tie puts the Brazilians well on course for a place in the group phase for what will be a ninth successive season.
New signing Lesiba Nku scored the other goal at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, where the match was moved because stadiums in Burundi have been declared unsuitable to host any international competition games.
Shalulile came off the bench to score as he took to the field for the first time since limping off with a hamstring injury against Lamontville Golden Arrows one month ago.
Masandawana make a statement in the first leg of our #TotalEnergiesCAFCL preliminary qualifier! 👆
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) September 15, 2023
Bumamuru FC 0️⃣➖4️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (12', 37' Ribeiro, 41' Nku, 80' Shalulile)#Sundowns #DownsLive #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/ZnmDx4c13K
He had missed Sundowns’ last four outings including the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal against Kaizer Chiefs.
Also back was Themba Zwane, who had been stretchered off against Chiefs with a gash on his face and missed South Africa’s two friendlies against Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A handball in the penalty box offered Sundowns the chance to take a 12th minute lead with Ribeiro tucking away the resultant spot kick. He got his second in the 37th minute.
Nku finished from inside the penalty box to make it 3-0 in the 41st minute after which Ribeiro struck the woodwork in the 48th minute, coming close to a hat-trick.
He went off in the 70th minute and was replaced by Shalulile, who took 10 minutes before he made his mark.
With the return leg to come at Atteridgeville on 30 September, Sundowns look assured of qualifying for the group phase of the continent’s top club competition for a ninth successive season.